Regenerative Medicine & Aging

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“Nonhuman primate models of human disease offer unique opportunities to develop stem cell-based therapeutic interventions that directly address relevant and challenging translational aspects of cell transplantation therapy. These include the use of autologous induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cellular products, issues related to the immune response in autologous and allogeneic setting, pros and cons of delivery techniques in a clinical setting, as well as the safety and efficacy of candidate cell lines. The NHP model allows the assessment of complex physiological, biochemical, behavioral, and imaging end points, with direct relevance to human conditions.”1

SNPRC’s Regenerative Medicine faculty includes Dr. Marcel Daadi and Dr. Tiziano Barberi. Both faculty members have more than 20 years of experience conducting research in stem cell biology. Dr. Daadi’s experience includes preclinical development of therapies that use stem cells to treat debilitating diseases. His primary focus is on developing a stem cell treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which is a consequence of the death of the brain cells that produce dopamine. Dr. Barberi’s primary areas of focus are the directed differentiation of PSCs and iPSCs with the goal of using these cells to treat muscular dystrophy and eye disorders.

Aging is the primary risk factor for most degenerative diseases. SNPRC’s Regenerative Medicine and Aging Unit leverages our scientific expertise in aging and stem cell research with well-established collaborative relationships with the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at the University of Texas Health Science Center and the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. This research consortium is poised to lead nonhuman primate (NHP) model development and advance the clinical potential of regenerative therapies and other promising anti-aging interventions.